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01 December 2007
03 May 2007
Bonnie Prince Charlie - Prince of Wales.
A STUART PRINCE OF WALES - Cymru 1715 - 1745, three of the 'Jacobite Claiments', used the title 'Prince of Wales'; those we know more by titles James VII, 1688 - 1701. James VIII (Old Pretender) 1701 - 1766. Charles III (Young Pretender) 1766 - 1788. What if? the latter two ''pretenders'' had taken the title more serious than just as one other title, of many but took it upon themselves to use the title to their greater advantage. What if? they had played a ''Welsh Card'' has much has they played a ''Scottish One'', I am thinking specifically myself, in the ''Bonnie Prince Charlie Connection''. Reasons for which will become obvious below and then possibly make the ''hypothetical connection'' have greater potential as basis of consideraing an 'Alternate History' scenario. Read On:
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Having discovered the following "snippet" of information on the Web regards St Winefride's Well, it got me thinking. However, read the "snippet" first and then see my comments. "The last King to come on pilgrimage was James II, who came on 29 August 1686 with his Queen, Mary of Modena, to pray, it is said, for a Stuart Prince of Wales''. That was to be James Francis Edward Stuart, the ''Old Pretender'', as the Whigs called him, he was born on 10 June 1688, which was yearly celebrated afterwards as 'White Rose Day' by the 'Cycle of the White Rose' which is said to have met annually at Wrexham until about 1850. His son would be Charles Edward Stuart aka ''Bonnie Prince Charlie''. It was his younger brother Henry, Cardinal Bishop of Frascati (1594 1612) , who, as Henry IX, was the last Stuart serious claimant (although he never pressed the matter) to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 'Non desideriis hominum, sed voluntate Dei', was the inscription on the medal which he caused to be struck. Mary of Modena's offering to Saint Winefride's shrine of part of the shift, which Mary Queen of Scots had worn at her execution, had been in the event a prophetic gift".
Having discovered the following "snippet" of information on the Web regards St Winefride's Well, it got me thinking. However, read the "snippet" first and then see my comments. "The last King to come on pilgrimage was James II, who came on 29 August 1686 with his Queen, Mary of Modena, to pray, it is said, for a Stuart Prince of Wales''. That was to be James Francis Edward Stuart, the ''Old Pretender'', as the Whigs called him, he was born on 10 June 1688, which was yearly celebrated afterwards as 'White Rose Day' by the 'Cycle of the White Rose' which is said to have met annually at Wrexham until about 1850. His son would be Charles Edward Stuart aka ''Bonnie Prince Charlie''. It was his younger brother Henry, Cardinal Bishop of Frascati (1594 1612) , who, as Henry IX, was the last Stuart serious claimant (although he never pressed the matter) to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 'Non desideriis hominum, sed voluntate Dei', was the inscription on the medal which he caused to be struck. Mary of Modena's offering to Saint Winefride's shrine of part of the shift, which Mary Queen of Scots had worn at her execution, had been in the event a prophetic gift".
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...and so consider the below:
...and so consider the below:
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If "Welsh Jacobites" having recognised James VIII (old Pretender) as rightfully King they have then have recognised Charles Edward Stuart aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (Young Pretender) as a "Stuart Prince of Wales?". Thus, making it possible for me to pose a rather interesting "Hypothetical Question": I know it is a "What If?", but if "Bonnie Prince Charlie" had really pushed on this one, would he have gained much wider support for the "Jacobite Cause" in Cymru? Keeping in mind the attempts at "Unity and Solidarity" between Rhys ap Gruffydd (P.of.W claimant) in the 16th century with the Scottish Crown. Then would it not have been shrewd strategy to have marched into Cymru first, as David Morgan advised him to do, Here he could have proclaimed himself 'Tywysog Cymru' raised a "Welsh Jacobite Army" to march on London and maybe achieved a victory instead of retreat and defeat. In such case perhaps Henry Lloyd, David Morgan and a few others would not have "Cut such lonly figures". The Hypothetical question posed is this: If ''Bonnie Prince Charlie" had followed through on what I have hypothetically proposed above......would you have risen up in his support in this opportunity to "have a go at the English rulers of Wales", would you perhaps have seen it as a case of "England's disadvantage is Wales' opportunity" or would you have been more a 'Lowlander Scot' and supporter of the English Hanoverian Crown? Let me know some answers, it is an enterprising and enlightening way to consider our history. Would such scenario have been any more to a Welsh advantage in the 1700's than a similar ''Tudor Adventure'' was in the 1500's. Could Welsh History have turned out any different, what do you think? If for instance ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' had turned towards Wales, he could have founded a ''Stuart Principlality'' here, and we would all be wearing proper ''Kilts'' long before the present ''Tartan Taffs'' arose, to feed their own style of fantasy. Plus we would have more bagpipies being blown than fiddles being fiddled plus we may have produce a ''Welsh'' Walter Scott and had some good romantic fiction to read. Haggis instead of Faggots and oatmeal instead of Lavabread. HHHhhhmmm!!! We may have seen more ''Taffies'' as engineers rather than teachers, and we might be flying the 'Cross of Saint Andrew', rather than the 'Cross of Saint David'. Last but not least, if we had lost that ''Welsh Jacobite Independence'', today we might be a lot nearer getting that Independence back? Whatever, will all existing secret members of the even more secret remnants of the 'Cycle of the White Rose' and 'Society of Sea Sergeants' be reminded that hence 30 July is ''Welsh Jacobite Day'' in memory of a couragous Welsh Man, David Morgan executed that day on the Surrey Gallows in 1746. ''Cilts Cymraeg'' may be worn at this commemoration and Bagpipes played.
If "Welsh Jacobites" having recognised James VIII (old Pretender) as rightfully King they have then have recognised Charles Edward Stuart aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie" (Young Pretender) as a "Stuart Prince of Wales?". Thus, making it possible for me to pose a rather interesting "Hypothetical Question": I know it is a "What If?", but if "Bonnie Prince Charlie" had really pushed on this one, would he have gained much wider support for the "Jacobite Cause" in Cymru? Keeping in mind the attempts at "Unity and Solidarity" between Rhys ap Gruffydd (P.of.W claimant) in the 16th century with the Scottish Crown. Then would it not have been shrewd strategy to have marched into Cymru first, as David Morgan advised him to do, Here he could have proclaimed himself 'Tywysog Cymru' raised a "Welsh Jacobite Army" to march on London and maybe achieved a victory instead of retreat and defeat. In such case perhaps Henry Lloyd, David Morgan and a few others would not have "Cut such lonly figures". The Hypothetical question posed is this: If ''Bonnie Prince Charlie" had followed through on what I have hypothetically proposed above......would you have risen up in his support in this opportunity to "have a go at the English rulers of Wales", would you perhaps have seen it as a case of "England's disadvantage is Wales' opportunity" or would you have been more a 'Lowlander Scot' and supporter of the English Hanoverian Crown? Let me know some answers, it is an enterprising and enlightening way to consider our history. Would such scenario have been any more to a Welsh advantage in the 1700's than a similar ''Tudor Adventure'' was in the 1500's. Could Welsh History have turned out any different, what do you think? If for instance ''Bonnie Prince Charlie'' had turned towards Wales, he could have founded a ''Stuart Principlality'' here, and we would all be wearing proper ''Kilts'' long before the present ''Tartan Taffs'' arose, to feed their own style of fantasy. Plus we would have more bagpipies being blown than fiddles being fiddled plus we may have produce a ''Welsh'' Walter Scott and had some good romantic fiction to read. Haggis instead of Faggots and oatmeal instead of Lavabread. HHHhhhmmm!!! We may have seen more ''Taffies'' as engineers rather than teachers, and we might be flying the 'Cross of Saint Andrew', rather than the 'Cross of Saint David'. Last but not least, if we had lost that ''Welsh Jacobite Independence'', today we might be a lot nearer getting that Independence back? Whatever, will all existing secret members of the even more secret remnants of the 'Cycle of the White Rose' and 'Society of Sea Sergeants' be reminded that hence 30 July is ''Welsh Jacobite Day'' in memory of a couragous Welsh Man, David Morgan executed that day on the Surrey Gallows in 1746. ''Cilts Cymraeg'' may be worn at this commemoration and Bagpipes played.
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Maybe you are "Welsh Republican" and you would prefer to hang around a little while and be a "Welsh Jacobin" in 1797 awaiting with a "Welsh Jacobin Republican Army" at Garreg Wasted for the French to land and Liberate Wales, massively welcomed by a "United Welshmen" uprising - but all to sadly not to be and again why? But what if?
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Welsh & Scottish Nationalism....Some thoughts and comparisons...Of course this would have all been an "Action Replay of Harri Tudur" and indeed that's was similar in mind of the Stuart claimant "Old and New Pretenders" to the throne of England, so just how does it become so "Scottish Nationalist" regards "Bonnie Prince Charlie and all that?" Largely due to the "English Reaction" to the Highlanders who supported the "Jacobite Cause" (See Rob Roy etc). The English reaction is to bring down a terror upon the highlands; Massacres are a plenty, confiscation of land and property, Jacobites forced into "Outlawry" and exile to the Americas (where rather ironically many of them become "Tories" and support the Hanoverians against the American rebellion. Don't ask me why, I have not looked into that yet, but I bet it's an economic matter) ...and not least "Gaelic is Banned". It is in all this that we find the English have provoked a Scottish Patriotism toward the Jacobite cause but? When, why and how did the "Jacobite Cause" become very much a plank of popular Scottish Nationalism...One does not have to look far...Go check out Sir Walter Scott and the ''Invention of Romantic Scottish Nationalism'' on the web. Read such and you will identify quickly why Scottish Political Nationalism (Same true for Ireland; See fictional nationalist writting on Connor the Smuggler and the Pirate Queen of Mayo) has always been a million miles ahead of "Welsh Political Nationalism”, which remains to this day the poor, weak and under nourished child of "Welsh Cultural Nationalism". Of course it's not simply a dose of adventurous reading that does the trick, the long folk memory of the Highland massacres and later the Highland clearances play a huge part in the maturing, development and advance of "Scottish Political Nationalism".
Welsh & Scottish Nationalism....Some thoughts and comparisons...Of course this would have all been an "Action Replay of Harri Tudur" and indeed that's was similar in mind of the Stuart claimant "Old and New Pretenders" to the throne of England, so just how does it become so "Scottish Nationalist" regards "Bonnie Prince Charlie and all that?" Largely due to the "English Reaction" to the Highlanders who supported the "Jacobite Cause" (See Rob Roy etc). The English reaction is to bring down a terror upon the highlands; Massacres are a plenty, confiscation of land and property, Jacobites forced into "Outlawry" and exile to the Americas (where rather ironically many of them become "Tories" and support the Hanoverians against the American rebellion. Don't ask me why, I have not looked into that yet, but I bet it's an economic matter) ...and not least "Gaelic is Banned". It is in all this that we find the English have provoked a Scottish Patriotism toward the Jacobite cause but? When, why and how did the "Jacobite Cause" become very much a plank of popular Scottish Nationalism...One does not have to look far...Go check out Sir Walter Scott and the ''Invention of Romantic Scottish Nationalism'' on the web. Read such and you will identify quickly why Scottish Political Nationalism (Same true for Ireland; See fictional nationalist writting on Connor the Smuggler and the Pirate Queen of Mayo) has always been a million miles ahead of "Welsh Political Nationalism”, which remains to this day the poor, weak and under nourished child of "Welsh Cultural Nationalism". Of course it's not simply a dose of adventurous reading that does the trick, the long folk memory of the Highland massacres and later the Highland clearances play a huge part in the maturing, development and advance of "Scottish Political Nationalism".
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Now look to Cymru again, despite the "Welsh Insolence" of the second English Civil War in Pembrokeshire, Cromwell does not give the Welsh a dose of Drogheda? Then despite all the "Welsh Anxt" about the "Welsh Not", well the English hardly really seriously attempted to thoroughly destroy "yr Hen Iaith". Please! Please! Patriots free you of "Cultural Nationalist Myths"; the "Welsh Not" was a "Home Goal", quite simply the English "Hi - Jacked "Yr Hen Iaith" to serve their "Protestant Cause". The English hostile to "yr Hen Iaith?" Hhhhmmm!!! Then what's all this about Elizabeth funding "Bardic Revival" (twice,' the birth of Grab a Grant Cymru), The Welsh Bible and then the work of the Cromwellian Puritan CPGW *. No the time the English get really worried about "yr Hen Iaith" is of consequence of the 1831 Welsh Insurrection at Hirwaun/Merthyr carried out by largely a 'Cymraeg Speaking' Working class population of the Head of the valleys. This worried the English Government but guess who pointed out to they, how to deal with this "Welsh Problem" none other than a "Toadying Taffy'' Lampeter born William Williams MP for Coventry - who advised the Government to send down to Wales "An army of school teachers to learn the Welsh the Queens English" ...all to sadly after 1848 that "Army" was to become largely a Welsh One and it is they who carry out the "Welsh Not", why? So that the rising "Cymraeg Speaking Victorian Welsh Capitalist Class" may have an "Educated Work Force", so that this class may become rich serving the needs of the BRITISH EMPIRE. (Read up on Sir Hugh Owen & David Davies). Sorry if that crushes a "Nationalist Myth" but it's true and you better believe it or you will ever be victims of "CRACHACH CYMRU" - ENGLAND'S CLIENT TRIBE IN CYMRU/WALES.
Now look to Cymru again, despite the "Welsh Insolence" of the second English Civil War in Pembrokeshire, Cromwell does not give the Welsh a dose of Drogheda? Then despite all the "Welsh Anxt" about the "Welsh Not", well the English hardly really seriously attempted to thoroughly destroy "yr Hen Iaith". Please! Please! Patriots free you of "Cultural Nationalist Myths"; the "Welsh Not" was a "Home Goal", quite simply the English "Hi - Jacked "Yr Hen Iaith" to serve their "Protestant Cause". The English hostile to "yr Hen Iaith?" Hhhhmmm!!! Then what's all this about Elizabeth funding "Bardic Revival" (twice,' the birth of Grab a Grant Cymru), The Welsh Bible and then the work of the Cromwellian Puritan CPGW *. No the time the English get really worried about "yr Hen Iaith" is of consequence of the 1831 Welsh Insurrection at Hirwaun/Merthyr carried out by largely a 'Cymraeg Speaking' Working class population of the Head of the valleys. This worried the English Government but guess who pointed out to they, how to deal with this "Welsh Problem" none other than a "Toadying Taffy'' Lampeter born William Williams MP for Coventry - who advised the Government to send down to Wales "An army of school teachers to learn the Welsh the Queens English" ...all to sadly after 1848 that "Army" was to become largely a Welsh One and it is they who carry out the "Welsh Not", why? So that the rising "Cymraeg Speaking Victorian Welsh Capitalist Class" may have an "Educated Work Force", so that this class may become rich serving the needs of the BRITISH EMPIRE. (Read up on Sir Hugh Owen & David Davies). Sorry if that crushes a "Nationalist Myth" but it's true and you better believe it or you will ever be victims of "CRACHACH CYMRU" - ENGLAND'S CLIENT TRIBE IN CYMRU/WALES.
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Oh yes! and who taught the 'Plant Cymraeg' to love and salute the 'UNION JACK', why the very same fella who was Inspector of Schools at hight of the ''Welsh Not'' business. Take another look at that notorious scene in 'How Green Was My Family', when the Welsh Teacher thrashes the kid for speaking 'Cymraeg' whose picture is on the Class Room wall, but of course Owen M. Edwards, Inspector of Schools and founder of Urdd Gobaith Cymru??? Then there's that Sir Thomas Phillips, Lord Mayor of Newport in 1839, who orders English troops to fire on 'Cymraeg' speaking workers. He of course is an ''heroic'' defender of our native language against the accusations of the 'Blue Books' and in recent times voted an ''hero'' by Newport Tories. History is so complex, none no more so than ours.
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* CPGW = 'Commission for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales', this is where the Cymry forsake Country and go over to God big time! Seek this out on the web and read of Cymru/Wales as a "Dark Corner of the land". You will here find the TEMPLATE FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN COLONISATION OF SUCH AN HUGE EMPIRE, I am sure you have heard this before: Send in the Missionaries, teach the natives about God and of course "Love, Peace and Pacifism", of course you also teach the natives that God's design is that the Imperialist have a superior Culture as Shakespeare etc. Then when the native is totally "Tame as Taffies", just send in the traders with the "hooch & beads" and we all know what follows, yes! The "COLONIAL LAND GRABBERS WITH THEIR SOLDIER FRIENDS". FIN!
* CPGW = 'Commission for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales', this is where the Cymry forsake Country and go over to God big time! Seek this out on the web and read of Cymru/Wales as a "Dark Corner of the land". You will here find the TEMPLATE FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN COLONISATION OF SUCH AN HUGE EMPIRE, I am sure you have heard this before: Send in the Missionaries, teach the natives about God and of course "Love, Peace and Pacifism", of course you also teach the natives that God's design is that the Imperialist have a superior Culture as Shakespeare etc. Then when the native is totally "Tame as Taffies", just send in the traders with the "hooch & beads" and we all know what follows, yes! The "COLONIAL LAND GRABBERS WITH THEIR SOLDIER FRIENDS". FIN!
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Yours Truly.
Yours Truly.
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G.Gruffydd.
G.Gruffydd.
12 April 2007
Introduction: What If?
Above are good starters for those who may have an interest in reading up some 'Alternate History', also see references below to other books and films worth taking an interest in. ENJOY!
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Alternate History writing is not “Revisionist History” but a speculative and conjectured view of history has it might have been on basis of “What If?” an event in history had occurred differently that changed the course of history. I am not going to attempt explaining this in any greater detail as it is done better by ‘enthusiast experts’ on the web.
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In particular search for:
· Alternate History.
· Stephens Alternate History Web Site.
· Uchronia: The Alternate History List.
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These sites will lead you on to many other rewarding excellent source of information web sites, that will be invaluable regards providing you with all kinds of information on this genre of creative writing. Particularly of value to those who are unaware of this area of fictional creativity, which note may other than the writing of short stories and novels also allow for creation of “Alternate History Time Lines” and much else as you will see.
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Many years have passed since I had pleasure to read a fictional novel with subject matter based on themes of ‘Alternate History’, books in this genre I have had pleasure of reading are:
· Bring the Jubilee (subject: Confederates win the American Civil War) By Ward More
· Pavane . (subject: England lost to Spanish Armada) By Kieth Roberts
· Fatherland (subject: Hitler wins the second World War) By Robert Harris,
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Would you believe it, but my attention was drawn back to ‘Alternate History’ over Xmas 2004 by being handed a little handbill entitled “if Jesus Had Never Been Born”, very simply it set out an “Alternate Religious History” based on this conjecture, not a story as such but simply speculatively making propositions regards all the “good things” that might not have happened “if Jesus Had Never Been Born”. Of course this was a very much biased account and just may have been otherwise written with an opposite view, regards all the ''bad things'' as examples of; Persecution of Pagans and even of the Christian Cathars, not forgetting the Crusades, Christian Conquest of the New World, plus the Protestant - v - Catholic Religious Wars and let's not forget the burning of ''Witches', etc.
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Whatever, it got me to thinking about ‘Alternate History’ and so I began to check out the web for further information and soon came up with a Web published document entitled ‘The Irish Empire’, that conjectured the coming into existence of such an Empire following Roman conquest of Ireland in the first century and it’s eventual demise during the 20th century. (see this excellent story on web). Of course it did not take me long then to wonder why there seemed to be no great Welsh attempt at Alternate History Writing , particularly those of Welsh history subject matter. At least I can find no reference to such (some one please inform me if I am wrong), other than a very well known story in the Welsh Language: Wythnos Yng Nghymru Fydd (a week in future Wales) by Islwyn Ffowc Elis.
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Post 2004 I was given as a birthday present the alternate History 'For Want Of A Nail' subtitled 'If Burgoyne had won at Saratoga' by Robert Sobel, this is a 'tour de force' in writing of alternate history and as the title suggests is about an 'Alternate America'. It is very detailed and so writen that one could almost believe it as a real history, especially because the Author has cleverly included foot notes. I am afraid at age 61, life maybe too short for me to attempt such a 'tour de force' so I will stick to some short stories and my on going blog epic:
· Alternate History.
· Stephens Alternate History Web Site.
· Uchronia: The Alternate History List.
.
These sites will lead you on to many other rewarding excellent source of information web sites, that will be invaluable regards providing you with all kinds of information on this genre of creative writing. Particularly of value to those who are unaware of this area of fictional creativity, which note may other than the writing of short stories and novels also allow for creation of “Alternate History Time Lines” and much else as you will see.
.
Many years have passed since I had pleasure to read a fictional novel with subject matter based on themes of ‘Alternate History’, books in this genre I have had pleasure of reading are:
· Bring the Jubilee (subject: Confederates win the American Civil War) By Ward More
· Pavane . (subject: England lost to Spanish Armada) By Kieth Roberts
· Fatherland (subject: Hitler wins the second World War) By Robert Harris,
.
Would you believe it, but my attention was drawn back to ‘Alternate History’ over Xmas 2004 by being handed a little handbill entitled “if Jesus Had Never Been Born”, very simply it set out an “Alternate Religious History” based on this conjecture, not a story as such but simply speculatively making propositions regards all the “good things” that might not have happened “if Jesus Had Never Been Born”. Of course this was a very much biased account and just may have been otherwise written with an opposite view, regards all the ''bad things'' as examples of; Persecution of Pagans and even of the Christian Cathars, not forgetting the Crusades, Christian Conquest of the New World, plus the Protestant - v - Catholic Religious Wars and let's not forget the burning of ''Witches', etc.
.
Whatever, it got me to thinking about ‘Alternate History’ and so I began to check out the web for further information and soon came up with a Web published document entitled ‘The Irish Empire’, that conjectured the coming into existence of such an Empire following Roman conquest of Ireland in the first century and it’s eventual demise during the 20th century. (see this excellent story on web). Of course it did not take me long then to wonder why there seemed to be no great Welsh attempt at Alternate History Writing , particularly those of Welsh history subject matter. At least I can find no reference to such (some one please inform me if I am wrong), other than a very well known story in the Welsh Language: Wythnos Yng Nghymru Fydd (a week in future Wales) by Islwyn Ffowc Elis.
.
Post 2004 I was given as a birthday present the alternate History 'For Want Of A Nail' subtitled 'If Burgoyne had won at Saratoga' by Robert Sobel, this is a 'tour de force' in writing of alternate history and as the title suggests is about an 'Alternate America'. It is very detailed and so writen that one could almost believe it as a real history, especially because the Author has cleverly included foot notes. I am afraid at age 61, life maybe too short for me to attempt such a 'tour de force' so I will stick to some short stories and my on going blog epic:
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The ASSYRIAN ROD*.
.It is quite possible that in time this 'Alternate Welsh History' will become an epic and possibly a 'tour de force', if I can find time to continue to the climatic conclusions, I have at moment only in my meandering mind. Do note, this story is no instant done job, it will take time, possibly years to completes as it will have to compete with other blog and Web Site work I am involved in. This story is actually in two, possibly three parts, and fantasy fiction will merge with present times realities of Wales today, in the seventh year of the ''Second Millenium''. The stories will owe much to Alan Garners book: RED SHIFT which I have not read but seen in 1978 'Play for the Day' BBC Drama form and whilst the book was criticised by some, the drama left a good impression on me. Do not expect or ask me to explain to you exactly what a 'Red Shift' is in scientific terms, go to web for that, suffice to say in theory at least the scientific idea can be used creativelly in the writing of 'Time Travel' or of 'Parallel Universes' stories. This was the subject matter of Garner's book, a story of three seperate periods in English history linked by one place and one person, no need for me to say much more on this as material on the web deals fully with reviews of it's writter, the book and the play.
.Essentially The ASSYRIAN ROD stories are based in the past, in time of Owain Glyndwr, beginning during the days leading up to his coronation on the 21 June 1404. Members of the 'Barefoot Welsh Doggis'' peasant army that are the basis of Glyndwr's ''rank and file'' support, seek meeting with the great leader so that they may present Glyndwr with a petition as to their reward for supporting his cause. Subsequently, an ''incident'' occurs that ignites events that changes the course of Welsh History, so influencing past, present and future? Glyndwr a popular leader amongs the 'Barefoot Doggis' is sympathetic to the demands of his ''landless'' followers'' and concedes to many of their wishes. However, many of his advisors are not and are weary of the ''Barefoot Doggis''and mindful in memories of the English Peasants Revolt of 1381. Glyndwr's chief advisors urge upon him caution but his generals Rhys Gethin and Rhys Ddu are totally opposed and conspire to crush the ''peasant army'' and execute it's leaders. As people gather in Machynlleth for the establishing of the planned parliament, the two generals conspire with other ''Glyndwr Captains'' to manipulate a situation where the ''Barefoot Doggis'' will lose the sympathy of Owain Glyndwr. On the eve of the coronation a plan is put into place that witnesses the conspirators organise an hired band of mercenaries to pose as ''Barefoot Doggis'' and kidnap Owain Glyndwr and other members of the Royal family, bind them as prisoners and take them off to the 'Barefoot Doggi' camp with the false story that they had heard Glyndwr conspire with his generals to crush ''The Doggis'' and kill their leaders. This causes confusion in ''The Doggi's'' camp, with some calling for the execution of the Royal Family whilst others shout care and caution, and that they should listen to what their prince has to say. However, already the two dark and devious Generals with a large host, are riding with great haste to ''The Doggis'' camp, ''to the rescue'' their rallying cry but in reality not only are they intending to crush ''The Doggis'' and kill their leaders. It is also their plan for they to kill Owain Glyndwr and other members of the Royal family, blame the murders on ''The Barefoot Doggis'' and then carry out a 'Coup d'Etat' to establish the rule of ''The Generals'', a Military Despotism aka Dictatorship........What happens next? Wait and See? Stay Tuned!
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Sorry no photos with this above story, needs some set up to illustrate, guess I will have to deal with this matter. So, Medieval Re-enactors wanted to pose for fantasy story?
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The second or is this the third story? set in the future, is in period where and when a third Investiture of ''William of Wales'' as the next English Prince of Wales is on the horizon. Set in a British Isles in total decay and decline with the demise of any central authoriy and the Welsh experiment with devolution a total failiure. Continental Europe has seen the idea of European Union disintegrate with only independant ''Crusader City States'' left with any resemblance of authority and normality, outside there is chaos aggrevated by the ''Muslim War'', everywhere discontented ''marginalised muslims'' rise up from their ''Ghetto Casbahs''. A European underclass have also risen up in ''Wheat War Popular Rebellions'' Scotland has achieved Independence and formed links with the Scandinavian and Baltic Countries whilst Ireland seeks to dominate an Atlantic Arc of Western Sea Board ''Celtic Bow'' Nations. Meanwhile England is in a total state of Anarchy and chaos, when the aged English Queen dies, and Charles becomes King. 'King Carlos', as he is known dispragingly by Welsh Patriots seeks by assuming more and more power to the English Monarchy, needs the Welsh on his side and embarks upon designs to make his eldest son, very much a real and hoped to be popular ''Prince of Wales''.
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This in itself is seen as a rather irrelevent idea but not to the ''White Flight English Settlers'' that have colonised much of central Wales, aka Mid Wales aka Powys, making of it an ''English Kossovo''. The Settlers branch of the BNP have founded 'Hengist and Horsa Movement', long campaigners for this ''English Kossovo'' to be made an ''Autonomous Anglo - March'' sees opportnity to advance their cause by combating Welsh Resistance to the Third Investiture, causing confusion to be seized upon by people with devious and sinister ''hidden agendas''.
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On the eve of an annual rally held by Welsh Patriots at the Cilmeri Cenotaph, the 'King Alfred Commando' plants a bomb at the Cilmeri Cenotaph, the explosion that night not only destroys a memorial sacred to Welsh Nationalists but also causes crisis in Cymru that explodes into radical national violence not witnessed sins the great Adfywiad Gwladgarol of the 1960's.
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Not long after the shattering of the ''Rock of Cilmeri'', White Eagle Crosses of Welsh Resistance are being painted up throughout the country, and there is whisperd talk of another great 'Adfywiad Gwladgarol'. But who is to lead this new ''Welsh Rebellion?'', there are many individuals who pose, posture and pretend to lead a renewed struggle and a number of groups and movements arise to occaision and sieze opportunity for a verity of reasons to advance a multiplicity of causes.
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Including amongst these is a ''mad mystic'' that attempts to lead a ''Celtic Christian'' militant religious revolution, seeking a return to the ''Age of Saints''. The martial monks of this radical religious revivalism are known as 'Gwynwyr' who with irony are soon called the ''Outlaws out of Hell'' because of the terror they bring to those who not come to their Godly Cause quick enough. Under the baner of their Red Celtic Cross, the Gwynwyr criss cross a torn and bleeding country side. To these ''Merchants of Murder'' all are enemies, they have no friends other than their fellow armed militant 'Comrades of the, soon to be bloody Red Celtic Cross'.
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However, there is but one patriot for real, he quickly becomes known throughout the land by the name he has given himself; The ASSYRIAN ROD, who leads a thought to have been demised organisation, now revived it becomes the restored and soon to be much feared, secret underground Welsh Resistance Movement, a revived Meibion Glyndwr - Sons of Glyndwr.
....What happens next? wait and see? Stay Tuned in!
.Well, that's the past and future of the story given a very brief introduction, for the present period part of the story, for an introduction starter into the historical political background, visit my existing ''Real World'' blogs:
.
* Alternative Welsh Nationalist History Archive blog http://awnms.blogspot.com
* Cilmeri 40 Tribute blog http://anturysbrydcofiwn.blogspot.com
and not least visit:
* The Welsh Patriot http://welshpatriot.blogspot.com
also
* Adfywiad Gwladgarol Cymru http://adfywiad.blogspot.com
Material therein the above three blogs will get you prepared with the Welsh history and contemporary nationalist politics, so you have a better idea as to the background of the two/three stories contained in the collective creative work I am embarking on with The ASSYRIAN ROD. For further relevant Welsh History, I suggest you visit the following blogs:
*Owain Glyndwr Communicates (Embassy Glyndwr).
* Cofiwn History Archive http://cofiwn.blogspot.com
* I'R GAD Welsh Battlefield Campaign http://brwydr.blogspot.com
.
Much else comes to play within my mind regard motivation and intended creation of The ASSYRIAN ROD, I have always had a great interest in Time Travel but perhaps oddly, not Dr Who, never, don't exactly know why? Particularly liked films are the excellent Millenium, 12 Monkies, Timeline and many more, also of course the all time classic The Time Machine by H.G.Wells. Am at moment looking out for Spike Lees film 'The Confederate States of America, seen it in DVD form at HMV in Cardiff, but did not buy, ''cheapskint Gethin'' has a £5:00 pain barrier when it comes to buying films on video or DVD, well! I will only watch such up to thrice more than likly?
.
Supplementary to the writing of 'Alternate History' is the creative development of 'Alternative Time Lines' (see on web), why not give it a go? There you go then, interested in 'Alternative History', if you are and can get over the fact that I am a 'Radical Nationalist' aka ''Welsh Extremist'', and arenot scared by that, then do get in touch if you wish. In time I will consider promoting ideas regards possibly:
.
* Alternative Welsh History Meetings/Weekend Schools/Conferences/Expos etc.
* Alternative Welsh History Society for Writers and Gamers.
* Alternative Welsh History Writing Competition.
* Alternative Welsh History, whatever? any ideas!
For now Hwyl!
Gethin aka 'Nahum' the Nationalist and compforter of the people.
NB: * The Assyrian Rod (c) Gethin ap Gruffydd with Intellectual Property Rights to Sian Ifan.
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